Fix-It Fairs are free events that teach you simple ways to save money and keep your family healthy.

Visit exhibits and participate in workshops from many of our community partners. Experts will be on hand to discuss water and energy savings, health, nutrition, community resources, recycling, and more!

In addition to providing sewer services and managing stormwater in the city, the Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) also works to protect – and even restore – our local wetlands and watersheds.

In southwest Portland, wetland habitat had been lost to development along the lower Willamette River. The Stephens Creek Enhancement Project is working to restore a 3.5-acre area.

BES crews recently installed new plants at the mouth of Stephens Creek and the Willamette River. Since new plants often have a hard time surviving the strong currents of the Willamette, crews used an innovative product to restore vegetation.

They rolled out wetland sod mats – woven mats that already have plants with strong root systems incorporated into them! They were grown hydroponically in Idaho, delivered by boat to the shore, and staked down in place.

We expect these heartier plants to survive river currents, prevent erosion, and enhance the natural habitat around Stephens Creek. If successful, this method could be used in future restoration projects!

Visit BES's website to learn more about the City's watershed services.

Yesterday, Nick was honored to attend two celebrations of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

First, the 29th annual Martin Luther King Jr. breakfast, sponsored by the Skanner Foundation. Nick was pleased to join his public advocate, George Hocker, Commissioner Amanda Fritz, and bureau Directors Paul Scarlett and Mike Abbaté, at a table.

Thanks to Bernie and Bobbie Foster for once again organizing a wonderful community celebration, punctuated by a call to rousing action by Benjamin Chavis.

Later, Nick attended the 30th annual Keep Alive the Dream, a tribute to the life and legacy of Dr. King at Highland Christian Center in Northeast Portland. He was pleased to tell the story of Sergeant Henry Johnson — and his 100-year-old struggle for justice.

As Dr. King once said, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.”

Latino Network provides a multitude of opportunities, programs, and advocacy for the Latino community in the greater Portland area. Their Unid@s program focuses on encouraging Latino leadership and civic engagement.

Check out Latino Network’s website for more information about this wonderful organization.

The video features many projects funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA provides grants to public and private projects throughout Portland. Between 2002 and 2014, the EPA awarded Portland $3.4 million in grants!

One of our local critters, the western toad, is identified by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife as a vulnerable species. That means that it will likely become an endangered species unless circumstances improve.

In 2012, arts and culture brought in nearly $700 billion nationally! Across the U.S., 4.5 million people work in the production of arts and cultural goods, and receive over $330 billion in compensation.

The arts and cultural industry isn’t just beneficial for the national economy - it’s also great for local economies. For every 100 jobs created by demand for the Arts, 62 more jobs are also created.

Other reports focus on what motivates people to attend arts events, and why.

Exposure to arts during childhood is a strong predictor for attending arts and culture events as adults – more so than education, gender, age, or income. Over half of all American adults attended at least one arts and culture performance or exhibit last year. That’s 120 million people!

People typically go to socialize with friends and family, learn new things, and to support their community.

In Portland, we are fortunate to have a thriving arts and culture scene.

Nick is proud to be Council liaison to the Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC). RACC provides many arts and culture grants to local artists, arts organizations, and schools in the greater Portland area. They also offer a plethora of opportunities for the public to enjoy diverse arts and culture events, exhibits, and programs. The City of Portland – through our taxpayers – is RACC’s largest source of funding.

Visit the National Endowment for the Arts website for more information about the reports. Check out RACC’s calendar for local arts and culture events.

The installation is a quilted, scaled-down version of the Portland Building. The soft façade depicts hidden parallels in architecture and textiles, including the visual language of patterned grids and lines.

The Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) sponsors the Installation Art Series. Selected through a juried process, each installation questions common perspectives through art.

Pliable Plans is up from January 13 until February 6 in the Portland Building’s lobby.

This morning, our new Auditor, Mary Hull Caballero, swore me in to a new four-year term as City Commissioner.

I was joined by my family, colleagues, and honored guests, including former Mayor Bud Clark and former Governor Barbara Roberts.

Bud was the first Mayor to place homelessness at the center of the City’s agenda. Barbara has been my mentor for more than a decade. I am proud to call them both friends and role models.

I will continue to honor the trust voters have placed in me by working hard, by standing up for people who don’t have a voice in our government, and by always trying to live up to the standards of those who came before us.

The well field is capable of producing nearly 100 million gallons of quality water per day!

The reserve is important because it’s our emergency water source. During the hot summer months, or during winter storms, water from the well field is sometimes blended with water from the Bull Run Watershed, Portland’s main supply of water.

Portland is fortunate to have some of the best drinking water in the world. Among the Bull Run Watershed and the Columbia Shore Well Field Groundwater Aquifers, we have billions of gallons of quality drinking water. Our water system serves nearly a quarter of our state’s population.